The Transfer Tavern

Profit Players: Florian Thauvin

Liverpool have started the season in imperious form with three wins from their opening three fixtures, further legitimising their title credentials in the process.

Following a season in which Man City dominated the Premier League in such imperious fashion, the onus appears to be on Liverpool to dethrone Pep Guardiola’s city slickers. The arrival of Alisson Becker, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri have added strength in depth to a squad which was lacking the quality to go toe-to-toe with City last season, but the dynamic has shifted and Liverpool supporters can now genuinely dream of clinching a maiden Premier League title.

However, Liverpool are still in need of further reinforcements if they wish to boast a squad on the same level as City, with the addition of a new centre-back and another attacking wide player on the agenda.

The likes of Ben Woodburn and Harry Wilson have been touted as potential academy prospects who could eventually slot into the senior squad, but Klopp would be wise to consider signing an established talent in order to bridge the gulf in class.

With that being said, Liverpool would should begin to monitor the progress of a player whom flopped during a brief stint with Newcastle United, namely Florian Thauvin.

The 25-year-old winger joined the Magpies in August 2015 after impressing in France, but he made just 3 starts in the Premier League before returning to Marseille on loan and he eventually completed a permanent switch in July 2017 in a deal worth just £9.9 million.

After arriving at St James’ Park with such huge expectations it was bitterly disappointing that Thauvin failed to break into the first-team, and the success he has enjoyed since heading back to France suggests that he moved to Newcastle before he was ready for the fresh challenge of English football.

Since returning to Marseille Thauvin has flourished whilst predominantly operating on the right side of an attacking midfield three, although he is capable of playing in a number ten role and on the left.

During the 2017/18 campaign Thauvin managed to score 22 goals and provide 12 assists from 35 Ligue 1 appearances and he has continued his excellent form into the new season with 2 goals from his first 3 outings.

With devastating pace and a clinical instinct in the final-third the 5-cap France international has forced the Newcastle supporters to ponder what might have been.

Thauvin’s lack of experience in the Premier League certainly counted against him first time round, but now that he has been afforded further time to develop there’s no doubt he is ready for a return to English football.

Within a free-flowing attacking Liverpool system which is designed for direct wingers to utilise their pace in the final-third Thauvin would be well placed to rewrite the wrongs of his dismal stint on Tyneside.

Klopp may be put off by the fact that Marseille are now in a position to command a huge transfer fee and generate a healthy profit on the £9.9 million they paid last summer, but on the basis of his performances in France since leaving Newcastle there’s no doubt it would be one well worth paying.